How will Texas’ voter-approved $3 billion dementia fund fare in court
Read full article: How will Texas’ voter-approved $3 billion dementia fund fare in courtIn 2023, Texas overcame lawsuits that sought to prevent constitutional amendments from going into effect, but one that voters approved in 2021 is still blocked.
How Texas’ law banning DEI, LGBTQ+ topics in K-12 schools could fare in court
Read full article: How Texas’ law banning DEI, LGBTQ+ topics in K-12 schools could fare in courtCases challenging Florida and federal policies provide a glimpse into the possible outcome for the Texas case. It is scheduled for a court hearing in Houston on Dec. 10.
A West Texas county wants to better prepare for floods. Paying for it will be tricky.
Read full article: A West Texas county wants to better prepare for floods. Paying for it will be tricky.Ector County has boomed since the 1970s, when the drainage system was last updated. Officials hope state and federal funds will help pay for the update despite some grant programs ending under the Trump administration.
Texas education chief met with Turning Point USA to discuss group’s expansion in high schools
Read full article: Texas education chief met with Turning Point USA to discuss group’s expansion in high schoolsThe meeting happened days before Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick pledged $1 million to help establish chapters of the conservative student group on every Texas college and high school campus.
Speaker Johnson defends Crenshaw after he was reportedly banned from congressional overseas travel
Read full article: Speaker Johnson defends Crenshaw after he was reportedly banned from congressional overseas travelPunchbowl News reported that the Houston congressman was banned from taxpayer-funded travel for 90 days after toasting a Mexican official who made an inappropriate joke.
Proposed data center project for Waco area would be “paradigm-changer”
Read full article: Proposed data center project for Waco area would be “paradigm-changer”The project is at a scale of industrial development and investment unmatched in McLennan County’s history: acres of computer hardware, substations and a 1.2-gigawatt gas-fired plant capable of powering about 300,000 homes.
A small Texas think tank cultivated COVID dissidents. Now they’re running U.S. health policy.
Read full article: A small Texas think tank cultivated COVID dissidents. Now they’re running U.S. health policy.People with ties to Brownstone Institute have significant authority over access to vaccines and scientific research.
Former Alamo Trust President Kate Rogers sues over exit
Read full article: Former Alamo Trust President Kate Rogers sues over exitRogers resigned from her position after Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick criticized a 2023 dissertation in which she asserted the importance of Indigenous people’s history at the Alamo.
Pro-gambling interests struggling to gain foothold in Texas after Senate special election loss
Read full article: Pro-gambling interests struggling to gain foothold in Texas after Senate special election lossJohn Huffman was the best-funded candidate in the Senate District 9 special election thanks to casino interests, but failed to make the runoff. Gambling proponents still have millions more to spend on Texas races.
Billionaire Jeff Yass gives $100 million to University of Austin for free tuition
Read full article: Billionaire Jeff Yass gives $100 million to University of Austin for free tuitionYass, a school voucher supporter and an influential figure in Texas politics, said the only condition for the gift was for the school not to receive government funding.
Democrat Rehmet, Republican Wambsganss head to runoff in special election for North Texas Senate seat
Read full article: Democrat Rehmet, Republican Wambsganss head to runoff in special election for North Texas Senate seatWith the GOP vote fractured between Wambsganss and another Republican, Rehmet led the three-person contest for the red-leaning district.
Texas cities grapple with order to remove rainbow crosswalks as state deadline approaches
Read full article: Texas cities grapple with order to remove rainbow crosswalks as state deadline approachesAt the direction of Gov. Greg Abbott, state transportation officials told local leaders to remove crosswalk art often used to mark historically LGBTQ+ neighborhoods or risk losing millions in funding.
Explosion of data centers causes planning struggles for Texas power grid
Read full article: Explosion of data centers causes planning struggles for Texas power gridAs companies look to build projects that consume more power than cities, the state’s grid manager is trying to plan how to provide enough electricity to meet the demand.
Texas attorney general sues Tylenol company over autism claims
Read full article: Texas attorney general sues Tylenol company over autism claimsThis lawsuit comes a month after U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. updated guidance discouraging pregnant women from taking acetaminophen, citing it as a possible cause of autism.
They’ve never been arrested. Why does the FBI list thousands of service members as potential criminals?
Read full article: They’ve never been arrested. Why does the FBI list thousands of service members as potential criminals?Denise Rosales has fallen victim to a military justice process called “titling”— that’s left potentially thousands of veterans saddled with false criminal histories.
Alamo Trust president resigns, one day after Dan Patrick calls for her removal
Read full article: Alamo Trust president resigns, one day after Dan Patrick calls for her removalThe lieutenant governor has insisted that the Alamo’s story remain focused on the 1836 battle over broader narratives addressing Indigenous people and slavery.
This newly drawn Houston district could unearth tensions between Democrats of color
Read full article: This newly drawn Houston district could unearth tensions between Democrats of colorA primary challenge to Rep. Sylvia Garcia underscores Latino Democrats’ fears of being unrepresented in Harris County.
Plan to pump billions of gallons of water from East Texas appears on hold
Read full article: Plan to pump billions of gallons of water from East Texas appears on holdAn East Texas farm sued the local groundwater conservation district that has authority over the aquifer that would be pumped. As part of a settlement, the district has voided its original permits.